MEET THE TEAM

Each individual on The Blanchard Institute’s recovery team is extremely passionate about the work we do. Everyone brings with them their own unique set of skills and experience, and together, we form an unstoppable team that’s dedicated to helping patients and families across North Carolina, through our Charlotte and Lake Norman outpatient rehabilitation facilities.

We look forward to being a part of your recovery journey.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Ward Blanchard, MA, MBA, CCS, LCAS – Founder/CEO

Ward Blanchard, MA, MBA, CCS, LCAS
FOUNDER & CEO

Ward has become one of the most prominent mental health and Substance Use Disorder professionals in the country…

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Allison Christie

Allison Christie, MBA, CADC, CAI-I, CPSS
Chief Administrative Officer

Allison was instrumental in the establishment of The Blanchard Institute in early 2016 and continues to…

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Angela Opalak

ANGELA OPALAK
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Angela has over two decades of experience providing skillful leadership, direction and solutions for all aspects of…

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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Ryan Mitchiner
Director of Business Development

Ryan, a native of Georgia, graduated with honors from UGA in 2003 and began his career…

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Judy-Goodwin

Judy Goodwin, CADC-I
director of COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Judy Goodwin brings 24 years of knowledge and experience working as an Admissions Coordinator…

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CLINICAL TEAM

SAMANdA STEVENSON, LCAS, CSI, LCMHCA, NCC
LAKE NORMAN CLINICAL MANAGER

Samanda’s awareness of the intersection between substance abuse and mental health with the…

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JENNIFER HARRIS, CADC-I
LEAD THERAPIST

Jennifer is originally from upstate New York and joined The Blanchard Institute in December of 2020…

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WILLIAM DOWDLE, CADC
PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Born and raised in Montgomery, AL, Will struggled to find the right path. After years in the field of substance abuse…

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Ivy Gray, MBA-HCM, LCSW-A, LCAS-A
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Ivy Gray is from Statesville, North Carolina and graduated from Winston Salem State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s…

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Xaria Hudson, LCSW-A, LCAS-A,
Primary Therapist

Xaria is from Goldsboro, North Carolina and moved to Charlotte in 2017. She graduated from the…

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Gabby Milando

gabrielle milando, LCAS-A lcmhc, ncc
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Gabrielle has a passion for working with individuals with substance use disorders. She graduated from…

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Jamaal Othiossinir, MSW, LCSW-A
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Jamaal is a native of New York City by way of Greensboro NC. Jamaal recently transitioned to The Blanchard Institute…

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ELIZABETH RATAJCZAK, LCSW-A, LMSW
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Elizabeth (Liz) grew up in Charlotte, NC, and uses her personal experienced with addiction to help…

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Nathan Roberson, MS LCMHCA, LCAS-A
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Nathan has a passion for helping others break the cycle of addiction and begin to live the life they truly desire…

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Josh Zummo

Josh Zummo, MS, LCMHC
PRIMARY THERAPIST

Josh is passionate about building a strong working relationship and views it as the foundation to…

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Brittany-Bolden

Brittany Bolden, LMFT-A, LCAS-A, CADC-I, NCC
MULTI-FAMILY GROUP THERAPIST

Brittany is currently working on her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella…

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corrie thomas

Corrie Thomas, MS, RD, LD/N
Nutritionist

Corrie has seen firsthand the importance of nutrition as a key component to recovery and enjoys…

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Johnny “Chicago” Marks, NCIP, NCRC II, CADC-I
RECOVERY CONTRACTOR

Johnny “Chicago” started as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Destin Recovery Center…

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Liz Derby, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, ACE Certified Personal Trainer & Health Coach
Spiritual Care Contractor

Liz has been working in the wellness industry for over 30 years…

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Cassandra Gordon

cassandra SIGLER, LCAS, lcsw, cadc
CONTRACT AssessOR

Cassandra utilizes a strengths-based approach, often including aspects of motivational…

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Casey True

CASEY TRUE, CADC-I
Extended Care Coordinator

As someone who firmly believes in the possibility of human transformation, Casey was…

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KEYONTE EASTER, MA PASTORAL COUNSELING, CADC-I
CLINICAL ASSISTANT

Keyonte Easter is a Charlotte native and has lived in the area since graduating from East Carolina…

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SARA PATTERSON, BS, CADC-I
clinical assistant

Sara Patterson is from Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated from Appalachian State University…

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Brooks Alexander
Recovery Connector

After finding sobriety in 2019, he began working in the field of recovery in 2022…

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Harold “hal” Blackwell
Recovery Connector

Hal was born and raised in Union, South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina…

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SHARA CLARK
Recovery Connector

Shara Clark has been part of The Blanchard Institute team since April 2022. Since coming into this field as a Recovery…

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NOAH LEISE
Recovery Connector

As a Blanchard alum, he was excited to join the team in August for the debut of Austin’s House…

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Kendra Levieux
Recovery Connector

Kendra has seen an amazing transformation from active illness to sustained remission from…

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Colleen London-Link, BA
Recovery Connector

Colleen has a broad range of expertise in education, business, insurance, and the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelor…

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LUTICIA MCKNIGHT, BA, CPSS
RECOVERY CONNECTOR

Luticia She has over 20 years of experience working with substance use disorder and mental health…

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PEYTON WATTS
Recovery Connector

Peyton is native to Charlotte and a Blanchard Institute alumna. Working with women in recovery and pursuing both…

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MEDICAL TEAM

Mary Urban

MARY URBAN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN
MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Mary serves our patients using an empathetic and client-focused approach to allow for the highest…

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AMY PHELPS, AAMA-CMA
MEDICAL OFFICE MANAGER

Amy is a lifelong Charlottean, having attended Charlotte Christian all 12 years of school and raising her family here…

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KATHERINE ZBODULA
NURSE PRACTITIONER

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LISA MANGAN, LPN
NURSE

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Valerie Morrison

VALERIE MORRISON, RN
NURSE

With great skills, Valerie comes to The Blanchard Institute to provide the highest level of compassion and hope for every…

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Mika Rhodes office administrator

MIKA RHODES
CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR

As the Client Services Coordinator and first point of contact, Mika’s goal is to remain grounded and be…

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ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

GINGER KAVANAGH, BA
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Ginger was raised in Augusta, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a…

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ADMISSIONS TEAM

Erica Baskin

erica baskin
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS

Erica brings an authentic and relationship-based approach to Business Development…

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Shelley-Wood

Shelley Wood, BA
Admissions Coordinator

Shelley lends understanding and compassion as clients begin their search for the treatment center…

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mICHAEL tRUE, CADC-I Admissions Coordinator

Michael was raised in the Carolinas and personally found recovery in 2018 after battling his own…

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FINANCIAL TEAM

CHAD ROTHERT, BA
CONTROLLER

Chad’s extensive experience comes from 25 years of working either as a member of executive management…

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Jennifer Cassidy | Revenue Cycle Specialist at The Blanchard Institute

JENNIFER CASSIDY, BA, MAS REVENUE CYCLE SPECIALIST

Jenny brings over 7 years of extensive revenue cycle billing and insurance collections experience with her to…

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Kelly Carrigan

KELLY CARRIGAN, CADC-I
REVENUE CYCLE SPECIALIST

Kelly has found her passion and purpose in helping others to discover the possibilities of a life…

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EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Gibbs therapy dog

Gibbs TOur & Therapy Dog

Gibbs was drawn into the field of substance abuse and behavioral health after her own personal recovery from…

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Blanchard Client Care Team